HRC Blog

President Obama Gives Nod to LGBT Community During National Prayer Breakfast

This morning, President Obama joined his cabinet, world leaders, and heads of the business and non-profit community for the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.

While not the focus of his remarks, the President Obama continued his administration’s drum beat to bridge the gap of inequality:

And he subtly called on religious leaders to end the rhetoric that is largely used by government officials worldwide to demonize LGBT people and falsely justify the subjugation of loving, committed same-sex couples.

Each time President Obama uses his platform to send a message of dignity and respect, it evokes a powerful message of equality to all. In fact, according to an HRC report, President Obama’s unprecedented usage of words including “lesbian,” “gay,” “bisexual” and “transgender” in his public statements is contributing immensely to the political mainstreaming of LGBT people and marriage equality within American society.

Today’s invocation is a reminder not only of the reverberating effect of fair-minded elected officials, but also the power of the diverse faith-based movement that is speaking out for equality and justice.